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Photo from the Whiskers Cat Cafe Facebook page.
Community

Bandaged Paws asking people to support an important partner

Apr 8, 2021 | 5:30 AM

The Bandaged Paws Animal Rescue Association is hoping the public can help an important partner.

The organization says in a Facebook post that 42 per cent of the cats it has seen adopted have found homes through Whiskers Cat Café but is worried about the continuing restrictions and the impact on businesses like this one.

The front half of Whiskers is set up to sell food and drinks. A wall divides that part from the area where people who pay an entry fee can go play with the kitties. The cat portion and in-person dining are closed, but take-out and curbside pick-up are open.

Bandaged Paws executive director Natasha Arsenault says the team at Whiskers does a lot to help.

“They take care of everything. They do the care for the animals. They help facilitate the adoptions with finalizing the paperwork. They provide everything the cats need, all of the toys and treats and food and everything there is all provided by the Cat Cafe.”

She adds Whiskers is a huge part of the Bandaged Paws operation.

“It is not just another business in the community. They literally exist to support a charity, which is a unique thing. They’ve gone through a lot of hardships to keep their doors open over the last year for the sole purpose of helping us. It’s quite amazing what they do. They have really big hearts.”

Arsenault says the Cat Cafe is also an important part of the community.

“Many people go in there who can’t have pets and go in there to socialize with them. It is a mental health thing for a lot of people to go in and just cuddle some cats and decompress themselves, especially with the stressful times we have been facing this past year.”

She adds besides being therapeutic for people, the cat half has also hosted a wedding.

Whiskers Cat Cafe is located on 105 Street in the Royal Oaks area.